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LGBTQ+ Campus Preview: 02 May 2025

LuLu Geza Kelemen - Thursday, May 1, 2025
 Events   Newsletters 
LGBTQ+ Campus Preview MAY 2025
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The LGBTQ+ Campus Preview

While we don't have as many events as usual to feature, we also have some updates and resources to share as you navigate your last days of classes, finals, exams, and graduation activities. As always, if you have any questions or need support, please reach out to us at lgbtq@gmu.edu. Please also see an important and time-sensitive message from our director below:

Campus Climate Survey (extended to May 2nd)
Https://rcsurvey.live/georgemason 

From Josh Kinchen (he/ze), Director, LGBTQ+ Resources Center-

Dear Mason360 members, You've received an email on March 26th inviting you to complete the Campus Climate Survey. I have served on the Campus Climate Survey Working Group for the past three months, so I wanted to provide additional information and clarity.  

First, I strongly encourage you to take 15 uninterrupted minutes to complete this critical survey. The data provided will help inform university priorities and resources allocated for important work for years to come.  

Second, the overall purpose of the survey is for you to describe your experiences at George Mason. While there will be several opportunities to talk about harmful experiences, the survey also includes information about the offices, people, and places that had a positive impact on your campus experience. Both aspects of your experience will help university decision-makers prioritize resources for key offices and initiatives on campus.

Third, one element of the survey data that will help tell the story of George Mason students is the demographic section. The survey company already had robust options for gender and sexual identity questions in place. As part of the campus climate survey working group, I also actively contributed to ensuring the language included was LGBTQ+ informed through the survey and in the demographic section. George Mason is looking for as many students as possible to complete the survey. My hope is for the survey data represents the large number of LGBTQ+ students who have chosen George Mason as their academic home. Please speak to your friends and classmates to complete the survey so our community is well-represented!

Lastly, as noted in the email invitation, although you must use your GMU single sign-on to access the survey (this is in place to ensure only Mason students have access), there is no connection between your sign-on and the survey results. The survey is anonymous by design, and there is no effort on the part of the survey company, campus climate working group, or university leadership to triangulate responses to individuals.  The same principle goes for the additional link in the completion screen that allows you to enter a raffle for giveaways. The giveaway link will not connect to your campus climate survey data.

If you or anyone you know has questions about the survey, I welcome you to reach out to me directly, and I will be happy to answer your questions and/or find the best person to answer your questions. Thanks again for taking the time to read this message and thank you in advance for completing the Campus Climate Survey!

Updated LGBTQ+ Resources Center Hours

It's hard to believe that the end of the semester is approaching so quickly!

Since we are a student-staffed center, our hours are shifting to allow our students to prioritize their academics, just like we hope you are doing now!

Monday 05 May: 9am-5pm (regular hours)
Tuesday 06 May: Closed (but we have two events that day, please join us!)
Wednesday 07 May: 9am-5pm (regular hours)
Thursday 08 May: 9am-5pm (regular hours)
Friday 09 May: Closed

Monday 12 May: 9am-5pm (regular hours)
Tuesday 13 May: 9am-5pm (regular hours)
Wednesday 14 May: 9am-5pm (regular hours)
Thursday 15 May: Closed
Friday 16 May: Closed

Upcoming Events

Along with UBU's Sensory Friendly Formal on Friday 02 May, we have two events on Tuesday 06 May to close out the semester on Reading Day. See you there!!

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EVENT

Sensory Friendly Formal

Friday, May 2
7:00pm - 10:00pm
HUB Ballroom, Fairfax, Virginia, United States
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The world is springing back into action and so are we! Join us for an evening of reemergence in the enchanted forest - the gentle music, soft light filtering through the leaves, and cozy environment will make this a night to remember! UBU's Sensory-Friendly Spring Formal invites you to enjoy the beauty of the season in an inclusive, welcoming space designed for comfort and connection, in an opportunity to connect with other disabled students on campus Dress your best, unwind, and dance the night away with plenty of food and drinks—or simply savor the moment with friends in a relaxed, sensory-friendly environment.

With this event, UBU aims to create a tighter-knit community on campus that accommodates disabled and queer students, in hopes that the attendees may leave with a new friend to chat with. We hope to address the loneliness that disabled and queer students can feel in the Mason community by bringing people together. If you're looking for your people, there is no better place to find them then here!
RSVP
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EVENT

Summer Clothing Swap

Tuesday, May 6
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Private Location (sign in to display)
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The LGBTQ+ Residential Learning Community and the LGBTQ+ Resources Center is hosting a Summer Clothing Swap outside of Dominion Residence Hall. Swap clothes before moving out for the summer and checkout a small selection of clothes from the LGBTQ+ Resources Center's Trans Clothing Closet Resource. Did we mention there will be free Rita's Italian Ice?

For accommodations that require support from Disability Services, please contact them directly at ods@gmu.edu. If you have accommodation-related questions about the general run of program, please email the Center directly at lgbtq@gmu.edu.

Please be aware that a 1-week notice is requested as some accommodations may require time for the University to arrange. Learn more about Event Accommodations here https://ds.gmu.edu/event-accessibility/
RSVP
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EVENT

Sip, Sing, Slay!

Tuesday, May 6
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Private Location (sign in to display)
Link
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The LGBTQ+ Resources Center, it's Peer Mentoring program, and the LGBTQ+ Residential Learning Community want to help students take a break from studying for exams. There will be karaoke, free food and mocktails, and a raffle with fun prizes (everyone who attends will get a raffle ticket and a chance to win)!

For accommodations that require support from Disability Services, please contact them directly at ods@gmu.edu. If you have accommodation-related questions about the general run of program, please email the Center directly at lgbtq@gmu.edu.

Please be aware that a 1-week notice is requested as some accommodations may require time for the University to arrange. Learn more about Event Accommodations here https://ds.gmu.edu/event-accessibility/
RSVP
\"Fairfax

Fairfax Pride launch event (June 7th, 2025, (9:30am-11:30am)
This collaborative event between the City of Fairfax and George Mason University will kick off Pride Month at Old Town Hall with informational vendors from George Mason and the NOVA area, as well as children’s activities, such as free caricatures, Fairy Hair, facepainting, crafts and more! At 10:00 am, a warm welcome will be given by representatives from  the City of Fairfax and Mason, to commemorate the start of Pride Month.

\"GeorgeTrans Clothing Closet Resource

Created in 2019, the Trans Clothing Closet is a resource where transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming students can find free clothing and accessories. No one has to prove they are “trans enough” to use the closet.

The Trans Clothing Closet Resource is IN our LGBTQ+ Resources Center, in Student Union Building (SUB) I, Suite 2200.

We are generally overstocked, so stop by and get a new fit!

You can read more on our website or reach out to us via email with questions.

Queer Buddy System

We're excited to continue to offer our Queer Buddy System Discord server, a resource available to students seeking community virtually! If you haven't already, be sure to open the verification channel and fill out the form required to gain access to all channels of the Queer Buddy System server.

The LGBTQ+ Resources Center cultivates the success and well-being of queer, trans, non-binary, and questioning students, staff, and faculty. Our work is deeply collaborative and rooted in intersectional justice. We build identity-affirming programs, develop leaders, provide critical resources, and foster a culture of equity and allyship, at Mason.